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Qld Health blueprint unveiled

Kym Agius

A major shake-up of Queensland Health will result in the outsourcing of infrastructure projects and services that aren't performing, the government says.

Opponents say under the plans, Queensland Health will be Americanised with a subsequent loss of jobs and conditions.

But Health Minister Lawrence Springborg says public-private partnerships are the way of the future.

"You can either get on the train or get under it," Mr Springborg said on Wednesday.

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Mr Springborg explained the blueprint to big business at a Liberal National Party fundraising lunch on Wednesday, which is believed to have raised more than $100,000.

Health services would be open to bidders, but outsourced services would remain free of charge.

Pathology, imaging, central pharmacy and laundry would be the first services considered for outsourcing, Mr Springborg said.

"If we can't actually stack up to what can be provided by the private and not-for-profit sector, then we may as well get them to do it," he said.

A new Infrastructure Innovation Board will be created to help the private sector cut through bureaucracy, while a ministerial council will assess ideas coming through.

The 48-page blueprint says when the costs of similar infrastructure projects are compared, private business is much cheaper than the public sector.

Expressions of interest will be called to build a surgical procedures centre at Brisbane's Royal Children's Hospital, as well as for radiation oncology services and latent space at the Gold Coast University Hospital.

The Sunshine Coast University Hospital, due to open in 2016, could have all its beds run by private management, but all clinical services will still remain free, the minister said.

The blueprint includes increased reporting of hospital performance, to be published online and in newspapers.

In remote communities, 24-hour "telehealth" services would be rolled out at six trial sites.

The government plans to streamline the awards and entitlements covering 80,000 Queensland Health workers, which are now spread over nine awards, six agreements and 189 human resource policies.

Mr Springborg insists there will be no job losses, but he expects jobs to be "shifted" to the private sector.

Nurses Union Secretary Beth Mohle believes that will not only trigger job losses but also an erosion of pay and conditions.

Hundreds of protesters from the public service union, Together, rallied outside the lunch.

Together secretary Alex Scott warned there would be a tidal wave of privatisation, and profits would be put ahead of people.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan swore the federal government would do everything in its legal power to stop the plan, claiming some hospitals will be privatised.

"This is a real threat to Medicare," Mr Swan said.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk called the plan the "Americanising" of the health system.

The AMA Queensland President Dr Alex Markwell supports more private partnerships but says strict accountability must be maintained.

"The health minister has talked the talk. Now it is time to walk the walk," she said.